In a controversial move that has sparked widespread outrage, Israeli settlers have shared an AI-generated video depicting the destruction of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, one of the holiest sites in Islam. The video, titled “Next Year in Jerusalem,” is accompanied by Torah verses and ends with the phrase “Coming soon in these days.” The video has been heavily criticized for promoting religious provocation and escalating tensions in the region.
The video shows the bombing of Al-Aqsa Mosque, followed by its replacement with a so-called Third Temple. It has been circulating on extremist Hebrew platforms, inciting anger among Palestinians and their supporters. Palestinian authorities have condemned the video as a deliberate act of provocation. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry described it as a “systematic provocation aimed at escalating attacks on Islamic and Christian holy sites in occupied Jerusalem.”
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The ministry’s statement further condemned the far-right Israeli settlers and their leaders, accusing them of feeling emboldened to push forward with their agenda of “Judaizing” Jerusalem and advancing their colonial interests, particularly as international responses to Israel’s actions remain weak. The ministry has called on the international community and United Nations bodies to take stronger action to address the incitement and halt Israel’s ongoing attacks on Palestinians, especially in Gaza.
The situation surrounding the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is located in occupied East Jerusalem, has been a long-standing point of contention. While Israeli officials claim that the status quo at Al-Aqsa is being maintained, the Islamic Waqf in Jerusalem, which oversees the mosque, has rejected these claims. The Waqf has pointed out that recent violations of the site’s sanctity are “an unprecedented breach” of its historical, religious, and legal status as a Muslim site reserved exclusively for Muslim worship.
Calls from far-right Israeli groups for mass incursions into the Al-Aqsa compound during the Jewish Passover holiday, which began on Sunday, have further heightened tensions. Since 2003, Israeli authorities have permitted settlers to enter the compound nearly every day, despite opposition from Palestinian and international groups.
Israel’s occupation of East Jerusalem began in 1967 during the Arab-Israeli War, and in 1980, Israel unilaterally annexed the city, a move that has not been recognized by the international community. The Al-Aqsa Mosque is considered the third-holiest site in Islam, while Jews refer to the area as the Temple Mount, believing it to be the location of two ancient Jewish temples.
This new AI-generated video has ignited fears that the increasing incitement from Israeli far-right groups is pushing the region toward further instability, with calls for more international intervention to protect sacred sites and prevent further escalation.
